South Gloucestershire

South Gloucestershire's population increased by about 17,100 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed quarter of a million

In the decade to 2011, the population of South Gloucestershire increased by 7.0%, from just under 246,000 to 263,000.

The addition of just over 17,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, South Gloucestershire was home to, on average, 3.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older South Gloucestershire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of South Gloucestershire increased by three years, from 37 to 40 years.

This area had a lower average age than the South West and became slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 8,000 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 8,000.

About 16.0% of people in South Gloucestershire are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and South Gloucestershire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

South Gloucestershire saw the South West's largest fall in the proportion of married people.

In 2011, just over one in two (52.1%) people aged 16 and over in South Gloucestershire said they were married, compared with 57.8% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 25.6% to 30.4%.

Across the region, Isles of Scilly saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of married people (from 58.9% in 2001 to 53.5% in 2011).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 53.2% to 49.1%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

More single parents

South Gloucestershire saw the South West's largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.4%) households in South Gloucestershire had a single parent, compared with 7.5% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising a married couple decreased from 44.7% to 38.7%.

Across the region, Wiltshire saw the next largest increase in the proportion of single-parent households (from 7.3% in 2001 to 9.0% in 2011).

During this period, South Gloucestershire overtook 10 local authority areas, including Mendip and Cornwall, to become the South West local authority area with the seventh-highest percentage of single-parent households.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in South Gloucestershire

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in South Gloucestershire was among those who said they had no religion, rising 14.3 points.

In 2011, 33.1% of respondents in South Gloucestershire gave this religion on the census compared with 18.9% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South West, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.5% to 32.2%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Newham, 64.3% said they were Christian, compared with 79.8% in 2001. About 0.3% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.2% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 8.0% to 8.0%.

In South Gloucestershire, 7.4% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.4% in 2001. In South West, 7.9% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in South Gloucestershire increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South West and South Gloucestershire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in South Gloucestershire

The percentage of South Gloucestershire residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.5% to 3.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.3%, while the percentage of South Gloucestershire residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90.2% to 89.5%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 3.0% in 2001 to 3.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in South Gloucestershire that rented privately increased from 6.3% to 13.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 9.8%, while the percentage of South Gloucestershire households that owned their home decreased from 81.7% to 74.9%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the South West (from 11.1% in 2001 to 17.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in South Gloucestershire increased by 7.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in South Gloucestershire, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in South Gloucestershire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 12.7% to 9.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13.3% in 2001 to 10.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in South Gloucestershire decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in South Gloucestershire, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of South Gloucestershire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.0% to 4.2% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84.0%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72.4% in 2001. The percentage of South Gloucestershire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20.6% to 11.8%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in South Gloucestershire decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in South Gloucestershire, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work life

The percentage of South Gloucestershire residents that were employed decreased from 60.9% to 59.2% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were unemployed, compared with 1.8% in 2001. The percentage of South Gloucestershire residents that were self-employed increased from 8.0% to 8.9%.

The proportion of employed people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (which remained close to 52.8%). Across England, the percentage increased from 52.5% to 52.3%.

The rate of employment was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in South Gloucestershire

In 2011, 2.5% of South Gloucestershire residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from from 1.1% in 2001.

Across the South West, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 1.0% to 2.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 95.0% of people in South Gloucestershire said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 97.6% in 2001. About 1.4% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.8% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.4% to 0.8%.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in South Gloucestershire increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and South Gloucestershire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in South Gloucestershire with children remained close to 30.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (59.5%) households had no children, compared with 59.1% in 2001. The percentage of households in South Gloucestershire with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.8% to 9.9%.

The proportion of households with children fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 27.8% in 2001 to 26.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 29.5% to 29.2%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of South Gloucestershire residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.9% to 1.1% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.7%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 1.0% in 2001 to 1.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in South Gloucestershire remained close to 1.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and South Gloucestershire by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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